Multiple party Wi-Fi router in a wireless network

Abstract

An apparatus, method, and computer-readable recording medium perform client access delegation for a network device in a wireless network. A network controller of a gateway device receives a super-user client device authorization from the network admin client device, connects the super-user client device to the gateway device, receives a second-party client device access authorization from the super-user client device, and connects the second-party client device to the gateway device. The network controller of the gateway device also allocates a portion of available network bandwidth to a second group of client devices, monitors bandwidth consumption by the second group of users, and limits the bandwidth consumption of the second group of users to the allocated portion of the available bandwidth.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A gateway device for client access delegation for a network device in a wireless network, the wireless network configured to communicatively interconnect the gateway device, a network admin client device, a super-user client device, and one or more second-party client devices, the gateway device comprising:
 a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the network admin client device is associated with a first group of users, and wherein the one or more second-party client devices and the super-user client device are associated with a second group of users; and 
 a processor configured to execute the instructions on the memory to cause the gateway device to:
 receive a super-user client device authorization request from the network admin client device, wherein the super-user client device authorization request specifies that the super-user client device is granted access by the network admin client device to control access to the wireless network for the second group of users to an unused portion of available bandwidth, and wherein the unused portion of available bandwidth is bandwidth not used by the first group of users; 
 connect the super-user client device to the gateway device; 
 receive a second-party client device access authorization from the super-user client device, wherein the second-party client device access authorization identifies a second-party client device of the one or more second-party client devices and one or more access rights to be provided; and 
 connect the second-party client device to the gateway device. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The gateway device according to  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to cause the electronic apparatus to:
 allocate the unused portion of available network bandwidth to the second group of users; 
 monitor bandwidth consumption by the second group of users; and 
 limit the bandwidth consumption of the second group of users to the allocated portion of the available bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       3. The gateway device according to  claim 2 , wherein a first group of users is allocated a primary portion of the available bandwidth; and
 the allocated portion of the available bandwidth corresponds to any remaining available bandwidth after providing the first group of users the primary portion of the available bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       4. The gateway device according to  claim 3 , wherein the second group of users also may consume any unused bandwidth of the primary portion of the available bandwidth until the unused bandwidth is needed to satisfy client devices of the first group of users. 
     
     
       5. The gateway device according to  claim 2 , wherein the second group of users provides payment to the first group of users to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth. 
     
     
       6. The gateway device according to  claim 5 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided for a periodic time period. 
     
     
       7. The gateway device according to  claim 5 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided on a per use basis. 
     
     
       8. A method by a gateway device for client access delegation for a network device in a wireless network, the wireless network configured to communicatively interconnect the gateway device, a network admin client device, a super-user client device, and one or more second-party client devices, the method comprising:
 receiving a super-user client device authorization request from the network admin client device, wherein the network admin client device is associated with a first group of users, wherein the one or more second-party client devices and the super-user client device are associated with a second group of users, wherein the super-user client device authorization request specifies that the super-user client device is granted access by the network admin client device to control access to the wireless network for the second group of users to an unused portion of available bandwidth, and wherein the unused portion of available bandwidth is bandwidth not used by the first group of users; 
 connecting the super-user client device to the gateway device; 
 receiving a second-party client device access authorization from the super-user client device, wherein the second-party client device access authorization identifies a second-party client device of the one or more second-party client devices and one or more access rights to be provided; and 
 connecting the second-party client device to the gateway device. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the method further:
 allocates the unused portion of available network bandwidth to the second group of users; 
 monitors bandwidth consumption by the second group of users; and 
 limits the bandwidth consumption of the second group of client devices to the allocated portion of the available bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein a first group of users is allocated a primary portion of the available bandwidth; and
 the allocated portion of the available bandwidth corresponds to any remaining available bandwidth after providing the first group of users the primary portion of the available bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second group of users also may consume any unused bandwidth of the primary portion of the available bandwidth until the unused bandwidth is needed to satisfy client devices of the first group of users. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the second group of users provides payment to the first group of users to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth. 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided for a periodic time period. 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided on a per use basis. 
     
     
       15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium in a gateway device for client access delegation for a network device in a wireless network, the wireless network configured to communicatively interconnect the gateway device, a network admin client device, a super-user client device, and one or more second-party client devices, the non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing one or more programs which, when executed by a network controller of the gateway device, performs steps comprising:
 receiving a super-user client device authorization request from the network admin client device, wherein the network admin client device is associated with a first group of users, wherein the one or more second-party client devices and the super-user client device are associated with a second group of users, wherein the super-user client device authorization request specifies that the super-user client device is granted access by the network admin client device to control access to the wireless network for the second group of users to an unused portion of available bandwidth, and wherein the unused portion of available bandwidth is bandwidth not used by the first group of users; 
 connecting the super-user client device to the gateway device; 
 receiving a second-party client device access authorization from the super-user client device, wherein the second-party client device access authorization identifies a second-party client device of the one or more second-party client devices and one or more access rights to be provided; 
 allocating the unused portion of available network bandwidth to the second group of users; 
 monitoring bandwidth consumption by the second group of users; 
 limiting the bandwidth consumption of the second group of users to the allocated portion of the available bandwidth; and 
 connecting the second-party client device to the gateway device. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a first group of users is allocated a primary portion of the available bandwidth; and
 the allocated portion of the available bandwidth corresponds to any remaining available bandwidth after providing the first group of users the primary portion of the available bandwidth. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second group of users also may consume any unused bandwidth of the primary portion of the available bandwidth until the unused bandwidth is needed to satisfy client devices of the first group of users. 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second group of users provides payment to the first group of users to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth. 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 18 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided for a periodic time period. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 18 , wherein payment to obtain the allocated portion of the available bandwidth is provided on a per use basis.